Overview
- American Rivers, which released its 2026 list Tuesday, put the Potomac at No. 1 because of a recent sewage disaster and fast industrial expansion tied to data centers.
- A Jan. 19 break in the 60‑year‑old Potomac Interceptor sent an estimated 200 to 300 million gallons of raw sewage into the river.
- Bacteria levels jumped far above safe limits, and officials kept recreation advisories in place for weeks after the spill.
- Advocates say a surge in data centers could strain cooling water supplies and wastewater capacity, with about 1,200 facilities proposed or in development, according to the Potomac Riverkeeper Network.
- D.C. officials lifted the river recreation advisory in early March, while American Rivers urges tougher review of data center projects and renewed federal funding for sewer and stormwater upgrades by September.